Monthly Archives: November 2012

Adam Cloch AGA Members Unveil LIHEAP Trolley Tour in Western PA

Posted on November 9, 2012 by | Comments Off on AGA Members Unveil LIHEAP Trolley Tour in Western PA


Four utility members of the American Gas Association (AGA) located in Western Pennsylvania kicked off the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the 2012-2012 winter heating season with the announcement of a new outreach program.

The “Partners for Warmth” — comprised of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Equitable Gas Company, Peoples Natural Gas, and Peoples TWP — officially launched the new LIEHAP Trolley Tour in an effort to spread awareness of available funds. The trolley, powered by clean natural gas, will make stops in Pittsburgh, Homestead, Washington, Aliquippa, Butler and New Kensington and provide assistance in applying for LIHEAP to area residents.

LIHEAP is a block grant program under which the federal government gives states annual funds to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households that struggle to heat their homes in the winter and cool them during the hot summer months. Each year, AGA joins the National Fuel Funds Network in sponsoring LIHEAP Action Day, a day of activities aimed at building awareness about this life-saving program on Capitol Hill. AGA advocated for at least $5.1 billion in LIHEAP funding for FY2013, but only $3.472 billion was approved.

“Approximately $200 million in LIHEAP funds are available to Pennsylvania residents this winter heating season to stay safe and warm in their homes,” said Equitable Gas President Bill Lucas. “It is vital that individuals and families receive the assistance they need.  Therefore, the Partners for Warmth continue our joint LIHEAP promotion efforts to let our customers know help is available.  Our ambitious goal is to have every customer who is qualified for a LIHEAP grant apply for a LIHEAP grant between now and March 29, 2013.”

Eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP change, and customers who may not have been eligible in the past are encouraged to reapply. For the 2012-2013 winter heating season, the income eligibility limit is 150% of federal poverty income guidelines. This means a family of four cannot exceed an annual income of $34,575 to be eligible.  The minimum grant for the heating season is $100.  LIHEAP closes March 29, 2013, or earlier if funds run out.

To learn more about LIHEAP funding and how to apply, visit www.liheap.org.

Posted in LIHEAP, utility, winter heating | Comments Off on AGA Members Unveil LIHEAP Trolley Tour in Western PA

Tracy Burleson Rethinking Your Home Furnace

Posted on November 2, 2012 by | 1 Comment


Guest Blogger: Valerie Hanneken, Social Media/Communications Specialist, Lennox Industries, Inc.

Advances in technology are not limited to new cell phones, computers and tablets. Innovation has changed the products of the heating and cooling industry as well. In the past, homeowners relied on a furnace to heat their homes as temperatures dropped. The furnaces of today can provide comfort while significantly reducing consumer’s monthly utility bills.

The Dave Lennox Signature Collection SLP98V furnace uses the latest industry-leading technology to improve efficiency and sound pressure levels. Recognized as a Most Efficient ENERY STAR Qualified Product, the SLP98V furnace meets or exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for energy efficiency, with more than a 98 percent conversion of fuel to energy.

The SLP98V also incorporates Precise ComfortTM technology, which automatically adjusts fan speed, heat and airflow to give the homeowner ultimate temperature control. AirFlexTMtechnology provides unique custom settings that allow the furnace to meet the specific year-round comfort requirements of any home.

When installed with the easy-to-use programmable Lennox icomfort Wi-Fi thermostat, the SLP98V furnace can exchange information with the device through “cloud” connectivity and make adjustments to optimize performance and efficiency. This means, consumers can control their furnace wirelessly from any Smart phone, tablet or computer.

Technology has changed the way heating and cooling equipment operates, and as a leader in the market, the Lennox SLP98V will certainly cause consumers to rethink the home furnace.

The Dave Lennox Signature Collection SLP98V furnace will be on display as part of the American Natural Gas and Propane Industries exhibit at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show on January 22 through 24 in Las Vegas, NV. Make sure to stop by to learn about the SLP98V furnace, as well as other leading-edge natural gas and propane appliances.

*Statements of fact or opinion in this blog post are the responsibility of Lennox Industries, Inc. alone and does not imply an opinion or endorsement on the part of the American Gas Association.*

Posted in Natural Gas, technology | 1 Comment

Jeff Martin Protecting Your Personal Items from Cyber Attacks

Posted on November 1, 2012 by | 3 Comments


AGA wraps up National Cyber Security Awareness Month with a guest blog post by Jim Linn, Managing Director, Information Technology

I have been fortunate to work in the information technology field since the early 1980s. Back then, the world was a much different place with far less emphasis placed on cybersecurity. Frankly, not all computer systems, databases and networks required user IDs and passwords. Not every employee had access to a work computer and few people had computers at home. Not only was there no such thing as a smart phone, but we didn’t have cell phones. Today, most people run a home network of devices connected to the internet, including computers, TVs, gaming devices, tablets and smart phones, which provide endless entry points for cyberhackers to compromise system integrity and ultimately, your personal data.

The landscape of cybersecurity continues to change, so it is important to recognize that you won’t be able to block every intrusion out there. But you can help to minimize these harmful opportunities with multiple tips and resources. Here are some of my recommendations for protecting and securing your personal technology to get you started:

Home Internet Access

Make sure your home wireless router is password protected. Another solid recommendation is to hide your wireless network or Service Set Identifier (SSID) which makes it far more difficult for cyberhackers to find. The longer it takes to find, the longer it takes to compromise.

Anti-Virus Software

Install the latest anti-virus software on all home computers. If cost is a concern, there are quality anti-virus programs available at no cost. It is important to prevent viruses and any sort of malware, which can do anything from export all of your personal data to erase your entire hard drive, from being installed on your computer.

Back It Up

External USB-attached hard drives are great backup devices and the cost for these has dropped significantly. In addition, there are some services that provide online-based computer backup. If you have data on your computer that you can’t afford to lose, such as important work, music, digital photographs, etc. you need to back it up.

Email

One of the most widely used email scams in recent times is spear-phishing. Perpetrators use email addresses that look like the address of a person or an organization you know. All they need is for you to open the attachment or click the link and your computer may become compromised and/or infected. Take care to look closely at the email addresses of incoming mail and at the message itself. Be wary of communication that asks for immediate action, offers prizes or asks for personal information. Take the time to investigate anything that does not look correct before opening the attachment or clicking the link.

Cell Phones and Smart Phones

Phones continue to house more and more personal information. Setup a strong passcode to lock your phone or handheld device so that if it is lost or stolen it cannot be accessed.

These are just some of the many ways you can help to reduce the risk of a personal cybersecurity attack. For additional tips and resources on how to protect yourself, your family and your devices online, visit staysafonline.org – powered by the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Although National Cyber Security Awareness Month has come to a close, cybersecurity remains a top priority at AGA year round. Stay connected with AGA for continuous coverage of cybersecurity topics and content on AGA’s website and blog, and through our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Posted in cybersecurity, people, safety, technology | 3 Comments